Punjab university teachers rally behind suspended professors

Chandigarh, March 4 (IANS) University and college teachers in Punjab have come out in support of three professors who were suspended from a leading college here for allegedly misbehaving with the principal. “The suspension of these professors is unlawful. The principal and the managing committee of the college are just trying to settle old scores. They are unhappy with these professors as they successfully led an agitation from February 2007 to September 2008 on salary issues,” Jagwant Singh, general secretary of the Punjab Federation of University and College Teachers’ Organisation (PFUCTO), told IANS Wednesday.

The three professors who have been suspended are A.K. Taneja, Anil Sarwal and Avinindra Chopra of the DAV College. They are also senior office bearers of the DAV College teachers’ union.

“The principal, B.C. Josan, in connivance with the college committee is trying to bully the teachers’ union. We have called an emergency meeting in this regard Friday,” Singh said.

But Josan maintained the three teachers had misbehaved with him.

“These three professors had manhandled me last year. We have suspended them as they have been also found guilty in an inquiry,” he said.

Sarwal has refuted the allegations. “We never manhandled or misbehaved with anyone. We just worked for the welfare of the college and the implementation of rules and regulations in the true spirit,” he said.